Sounders add Cameroon defender to first team

The Sounders Thursday signed 19-year-old defender Nouhou Tolo of Cameroon, who made 24 appearances in 2016 for Sounders FC2, the club’s UL entry, to the first team.

“Nouhou performed admirably for S2 last season and we’re excited to add him to the first team roster,” said Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey. “It’s important that we continue to build players up through our developmental pipeline, and here is another good example of a young player who earned his opportunity.”

Tolo, 19, started all 24 of his appearances for S2 last season, leading the team with 2,061 minutes and helping the USL club to a 9-13-8 record in its second campaign. He joined S2 in April 2016 from Cameroonian side Rainbow FC.

The Sounders began preseason workouts Tuesday. Training camps will be held in Tucson, AZ., and Charleston, SC., in the run-up to the MLS opener March 4 in Houston.

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